The 40th annual Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Celebration Broadcast, honoring the thousands of children treated at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center this past year, raised an outstanding $1,278,873 to support pediatric care across eastern North Carolina, bringing the cumulative total raised to $35,680,524.
The telethon, which aired from May 31 to June 1, was produced by longtime CMN television partner WITN, highlighted emotional and inspiring stories of children who have overcome complex medical challenges thanks to the exceptional care received at Maynard Children’s Hospital. A special long-time donor and friend of Maynard Children’s Hospital provided a generous $100,000 match during the event, doubling gifts and doubling the impact for sick and injured children in eastern North Carolina.
“This year’s Celebration Broadcast was incredibly special, marking 40 years of support for Children’s Miracle Network and bringing together those who have made a difference,” said Elise Ironmonger, Director of Programs at the ECU Health Foundation. “It was amazing to reflect on this journey and connect with our dedicated supporters. We also honored the generous businesses, community groups and individuals whose commitment will continue to save lives and bring hope to the children at Maynard Children’s Hospital.”
To commemorate 40 years of making miracles happen in eastern North Carolina, the event included many special acknowledgements to celebrate the milestone. Former WITN personalities throughout the years provided messages of encouragement and support while past miracle children provided updates on their journeys and how their lives were directly impacted by the generous donations from the telethon. Four loyal volunteers joined the celebration for their 40th time, attending all 40 telethons throughout the years: Fred Anderson, Debbie Austin, Vivian Bazemore and Diane Oakley. Another very special moment included an interview with Lillian Jones, who honored her late husband, Dick Jones, WITN personality and talent who hosted the very first telethon in 1986.
Funds raised during the Celebration Broadcast ensure that children from across the region have access to the highest quality care, advanced medical equipment and life-saving programs. Each dollar raised stays local to support pediatric services at Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Major sponsors once again demonstrated their generosity, with the following top contributors each giving at least $100,000:
- Speedway, part of 7-11, Inc: $209,647
- Jersey Mike’s Subs: $188,375
- Walmart and Sam’s Club: $153,672
- Music for Miracles Radiothon: $113,734
- Log A Load for Kids: $100,000
The following sponsors each made a significant impact with donations totaling over $25,000: Ace Hardware ($37,383), Panda Express ($32,035), Dance Arts Theatre ($28,876) and Extra Life ($26,345).
Coming through in a big way, the following organizations donated between $5,000-$20,000: Central Heating and Air Conditioning, Barbour Hendrick Honda of Greenville, Electric Cooperative of ENC, Dairy Queen, Ollies, Phi Mu, Pepsi/Minges Bottling Group, American Builders, Publix and Eastern Radiologists.
Finally, a big thanks to these generous donors who contributed between $1,000-$5,000: Miller & Friends Lemonade Stand, Grady White Boats, RE/MAX, Whistle Express Car Wash, Care-O-World, Baynor Inc, Ajay Ajmera, Arun Ajmera, Ricci Law Firm, Builder’s Discount Center, Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby PA, MSL Healthcare Partners, Stallings Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, POPS Mart Fuels and Aldridge & Southerland.
The local CMN Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the ECU Health Foundation, the non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to ECU Health. The ECU Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds.
ECU Health is launching a new telemedicine project to improve access to specialized care for rural patients at four hospitals: ECU Health Bertie, ECU Health Chowan, ECU Health Duplin and ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan. These sites currently have limited access to specialist physicians, requiring patients to travel to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville for care.
By connecting these sites to the ECU Health Medical Center hub, this project will offer telemedicine services directly at local hospitals, reducing travel costs and improving access to high-quality care. ECU Health has been awarded nearly $1 million from the USDA to operationalize this initiative. The project includes installing telemedicine carts at each site and advanced telehealth equipment in patient rooms at two locations.
This will enable patients and clinicians to consult with specialists at ECU Health Medical Center remotely while receiving in-patient care in the community hospitals that do not currently have specialists on site. The technology will provide a seamless and high-quality experience for both patients and clinicians.
This initiative will significantly benefit underserved communities, particularly by reducing the financial barrier of traveling for medical care. It also aims to improve patient health outcomes by keeping families and their support systems close during treatment. This assistance from the USDA aligns with its mission to enhance health care access in eastern North Carolina and become a national leader in rural health.
The ECU Health Foundation is proud to recognize The Service League of Greenville — a long-standing, loyal partner whose unwavering commitment has left an extraordinary mark on health care in eastern North Carolina. Founded in 1938, the Service League of Greenville is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization of dedicated women who tirelessly serve their local and regional community. The passion and generosity of their nearly 160 current members has touched countless lives, and ECU Health and the colleges and schools of the health sciences at East Carolina University have been fortunate to be among the many beneficiaries of their philanthropic vision.
“As President of the Service League of Greenville, I have never known a more giving group of ladies. We all enjoy helping our neighbors throughout Pitt County and the Medical community. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing organization,” said Cassie Causey, President of The Service League of Greenville.
Throughout the years, The Service League of Greenville has contributed more than $14.5 million to health care and health sciences initiatives. Most recently, they made a generous $100,000 commitment to the Investing in Our Future Endowment — a perpetual fund designed to advance ECU Health and its academic partners in improving the health, education and well-being of our region.
We are honored to steward The Service League of Greenville’s funds and ensure that their legacy of giving continues to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
This April, we proudly celebrated the 40th anniversary of ECU Health EastCare, a lifeline for critically ill and injured patients across eastern North Carolina. As the first program in the state to carry whole blood products, EastCare continues to set the standard for critical care transport, operating a fleet of five helicopters and multiple ground units, including a Children’s Transport Team in partnership with James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital. With each helicopter logging over 900 hours—far surpassing the national average of 300—our crews work tirelessly to provide rapid, lifesaving care when every second counts.
To remain at the forefront of emergency transport, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of people like you. Donor dollars are essential to equipping our teams with the latest life-saving technology, including updated stretchers ($60,000 each), 22 heart monitors ($38,000 each), and 22 ventilators ($21,000 each). Additionally, each crew member requires three flight suits ($450 per suit) and helmets ($2,000 each) to ensure safety and readiness.
As we mark this milestone, we invite you to join our efforts in celebrating EastCare and all that they do for eastern North Carolina. Your generosity ensures we can continue to deliver world-class care to those who need it most.
Community partners are essential to the work of the ECU Health Foundation. The impact these partners provide on a daily basis to the patients and families at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital is life-changing. Pirates Vs. Cancer is just one example of the tremendous efforts and impact made by our community partners.
Pirates Vs. Cancer was founded nine years ago by Trevor Hunt and other students at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. These students weren’t just studying the impact of cancer — they had seen it in their families, their communities and often in their own lives. In response, this dedicated group turned those experiences into action, building a powerful tradition that brings hope to children across eastern North Carolina who are fighting cancer.
In April 2025, Brody students hosted the ninth annual Pirates Vs. Cancer event, bringing their total raised to more than $174,000 in support of pediatric cancer patients at Maynard Children’s Hospital. Every dollar raised goes directly toward improving the lives of pediatric oncology patients all across eastern North Carolina.
Funds raised through Pirates Vs. Cancer have already made a lasting impact. Past donations helped renovate the inpatient playroom — a vital space where children can find comfort and joy during treatment. This bright and innovative area is available for children and teens admitted to the children’s hospital and offers activities for all ages, including video games, imaginative play, arts and crafts and more.
Thanks to Pirates Vs. Cancer and all of of our vital community partners, we can continue to bring big smiles to our smallest patients and further our mission to improve the health and well-being of children across the region.
T
hanks to your ongoing generosity, the 28th annual Music for Miracles Radiothon has achieved an amazing milestone—raising more than $4 million in total for the children and families who rely on the care at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center.
This year alone, 
our community came together to raise $113,734 during the radiothon on 107.9 WNCT and all the Inner Banks Media stations. Your support, alongside the collective effort of many, has made a tremendous impact on the lives of sick and injured children in eastern North Carolina.
Every dollar raised through this event goes directly toward critical programs and services at Maynard Children’s Hospital—ensuring the best possible care for our youngest patients.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you for being a vital part of this success. Your contribution helps us make miracles happen every day. Thank you once again for your unwavering commitment to the children of eastern North Carolina. Together, we are building brighter futures and creating lasting change for the children and families who need us most.
“The Radiothon is one of the highlights of our year in terms of our public service efforts. As is often the case when you do something like this, we were the ones who were blessed to have been part of it,” said Henry Hinton, Inner Banks Media President.
On March 5, East Carolina University celebrated Pirate Nation Gives, its annual day of giving. Students, alumni, faculty and friends came together to raise more than $193,000 in support of the schools and colleges of the health sciences. The day was full of energy, especially on the health sciences campus, where faculty and staff brought enthusiasm and creativity to the celebration.
The ECU Health Foundation hosted a kickoff breakfast — a first for Pirate Nation Gives — which set the tone for a fun and impactful day. One of the day’s highlights came courtesy of Dean Bim Akintade, who made good on a playful promise: after the College of Nursing reached 100 donors, he gamely took a cake to the face — all in the name of Pirate pride and philanthropy.
Thanks to the collective generosity of our Pirate Nation, the spirit of giving was alive and well, helping to advance education, training and health care for eastern North Carolina and beyond.
ECU Health is pleased to announce that Scott Senatore, vice president of the ECU Health Foundation, will step into the president’s role effective July 9, 2018.
Janet Mullaney, current president of the Foundation, is retiring July 6.
“My long tenure at ECU Health has been very rewarding, and my work with the Foundation has been the pinnacle of my career,” said Mullaney.
Senatore joined the Foundation in June 2016 and, with the Foundation team, has participated in raising $43 million toward the $50 million goal for the ECU Health Cancer Care Campaign. The Foundation team has continued to raise funds for James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital and other system initiatives that support its mission. Additionally, the Foundation team has enhanced marketing and communication efforts and has developed a more targeted approach to community relations.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Senatore had a successful 10-year career at the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce. He stepped into the president’s role at the Chamber for the last three years of his tenure. While at the Chamber, Senatore was a part of a team that increased revenue, grew membership, expanded economic development efforts, grew advocacy efforts and established new partnerships.
Senatore has an undergraduate degree in public relations from the School of Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Master of Business Administration from East Carolina University (ECU). He is currently working on a doctorate at ECU in educational leadership. In addition, he holds a certificate in Nonprofit Organizational Management from the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Senatore and his wife, Amanda, have lived in Greenville for 14 years. Amanda, a native of Greenville, is a physician’s assistant at the ECU Health Medical Center Minor Emergency Department. They have two boys, ages 6 and 3.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead the ECU Health Foundation. I’m inspired by and grateful for our donors, volunteers and Foundation team as they continue to demonstrate their generosity and dedication in support of our mission to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina,” said Senatore. “I appreciate the confidence our Board, our team and ECU Health has in me to guide the Foundation through a very transformative time in health care.”
As president of the ECU Health Foundation, Senatore will be responsible for leadership and oversight of the organization, which includes the Foundation’s overall strategies, management, planning and operations.
“We are so appreciative of Janet’s leadership during the last two years. She has been instrumental in taking the ECU Health Foundation to the next level,” said Myra Bowen, chair, ECU Health Foundation Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled that Scott is able to step into this role and continue to provide strategic leadership and direction for the Foundation team. He has proven, during the last two years, that he has the skills and experience necessary to lead and enhance our philanthropic efforts in the region.”
Media contact: Beth Anne Atkins, director, marketing and communications, ECU Health Foundation, 252-847-7695 or [email protected]